Merz Proposes Ukraine Associate EU Status, Offering 27-Nation Security Pledge

6 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 21

A letter seen by Reuters shows Friedrich Merz urging EU leaders to create an “associate member” status for Ukraine, letting its officials join summits and ministerial meetings without voting rights.
Merz argues the interim status could help secure a negotiated end to Russia’s war by giving President Volodymyr Zelenskiy a credible EU path even if Ukraine neither regains all territory nor joins NATO.
The German chancellor also wants the 27-member bloc to make a political commitment to extend the EU’s mutual-assistance clause to Ukraine as a substantial security guarantee.
Full EU entry remains years away because accession requires extensive reforms and ratification by every member state, making Merz’s proposal a middle course between candidacy and rapid membership.
Merz said he will press the idea with fellow leaders soon and wants a dedicated task force to work out details, including non-voting roles in the Commission and Parliament.

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